Goel urges Delhi govt to compensate farmers for crop loss due to hailstorm

Former Union minister Vijay Goel visited the village areas of Laampur, Narela and Baakner here on Sunday to take stock of the damage due to the hailstorm and rain that lashed the national capital and urged the Delhi government to compensate the farmers, whose crops were destroyed, by paying them Rs 60,000 per acre.

Hailstorm and rain had lashed the national capital on Saturday.

Goel, a Rajya Sabha MP, saw the damage suffered by the wheat, mustard, sunflower crops that were to be cut in 15-20 days and interacted with the farmers.

He was accompanied by District Magistrate Neel Daman Khatri, farmers from several villages and the heads of various panchayats.

The BJP leader said at least 50,000 families in Delhi were dependent on agriculture and grew crops on land measuring a total of 1.25 lakh acres.

He assured the farmers that he will fight for them and ensure that they got due compensation for their loss.

In a press statement, Goel said he had spoken to farmers, village pradhans and sarpanches throughout the national capital and assessed that the farmers should be paid a compensation of Rs 60,000 per acre.

He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, which has been distributing freebies among people, should definitely compensate the farmers.

Goel added that at a time when everyone was scared of the coronavirus, it will be difficult for the farmers to make ends meet.

He assured the farmers that he will raise the issue of crop loss in Parliament.